Anchor for hinged caps



Filed Feb. 1, 1954 Patented Aug. 24, 1937 @PATENT OFFICE ANCHOR FOR HINGED CAPS James Nicol Halkctt, Detroit, Mich, assignor to Eaton Manufacturing Company,

Cleveland,

Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application February 1, 1934, Serial No. 709,305

cap and filler neck assembly embodying a novel a novel form of anchor member disposed in the filler neck.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved closure structure, of the type mentioned, wherein the anchor member comprises an arcuate spring having an inherent tendency to expand, whereby the anchor member is -releasably and adjustably locked to the neck.

It is also an object of this invention to provide an improved closure structure embodying a neck member and an anchor member disposed therein, and wherein one of said members is provided with a plurality of recesses and the other member is provided with a projection adapted for lock-' ing engagement in any one of said recesses and wherein the anchor member is an arcuate spring having an inherent tendency to expand, whereby the projection and said one recess are held in locking cooperation.

- Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following desc'riptic'n'i; when taken in'conjunction with the accompanying sheet of drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a hinged cap and filler neck assembly embodying my invention and showing the cap swung to the open position;

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken through the closure structure of Fig. 1 arid also: showing the cap in the open'pos'ition; w

Fig. 3 is a'partial sectional view taken as inclicated by line 33 of Fig. 2; v Fig. 4 is a detached plan view of the anchor member; and I Fig. 5 is a sectional View thereof taken cated by line 5-5 of Fig. 4. a r

In the accompanying drawing, to which de tailed reference will now be made, I have shown my invention embodied in a hinged'cap and filler neck assembly of the type adapted to' be appliedto the radiators and gas tanks of motor vehicles, and to various other fluid containers. It. will be understood, of course, that the closure structure shownin the drawing is illustrative only, and that the invention may be embodied in various other closure devices.

.;.In general, the invention provides an'improvedform of anchor for retaining a closure cap in connected relation with the filler neck to which the cap is to be applied. As will be explained more fully hereinafter, the anchor comprises an arcuate spring which is disposed in the filler neck and which has an inherent tendency to expand, whereby the anchor is releasably and ad justably locked to. the neck. Before proceeding with the detailed description of the anchor, I shall describe briefly one form of closure cap and filler neck with which my improved anchor may be used.

The cap illustrated in this instance comprises a sheet metal body I 0 which has been stamped or drawn in suitable dies to the shape shown in Figs. 1 and 2 whereby the body is provided around its outer edge with a depending marginal skirt II, and is provided centrally thereof with a depending boss or pilot cup l2. The transverse top wall portion l3 of the body which connects the pilot cup with the marginal skirt forms an annular seat for a sealing gasket Hi. Portions of the bottom" wall of the pilot cup [2 may be drawn downwardly to form opposed arcuate extensions l5 which serve to increase the depth or length' of the pilot cup. A resilient bayonet locking member l8, of a form Well known in this-art, may be secured to the bottom wall of the pilot cup by one or more rivets l9 so that the oppositely extending resilient fingers project outwardly from the' pilot cup between the adjacent ends of the arcuate'e'xtensions l5.

It will be noted from Fig. 2 of the drawing that the depending pilot cup I2 is hollow and that the recess therein forms a' chamber 22 on the upper side of the cap. A cover member 23 of any appropriate form may be applied to the closure cap so as to' overlie and close the chamber 22. In this instance; the cover member is formed of sheet metal and includes a convex disk portion 24', which overlies the chamber 22, and latorally projecting arm portions 25 which extend across the transverse wall portion l3 and also extend radially outwardlybeyond the skirt II to provide handle or gripping portions for facilitating the handling and rotation of the cap. The cover member may be securedtothe cap body by any suitable means. such as'by spot-welds 2'! connecting the projections 2.3 with the transverse wall l3; Hollow ribs28 may be' formed in the projections 23 to r'eenIorc'e and strengthen the same.

The filler neck illustrated in this instancecomprises a tubularsheet metalbody having an externally threadedconnecting portion 3| at its lower end, and an internal annular flange 32 at its outer end. The threaded connecting part is adapted for cooperation with any available threaded opening or part on the container or 5 device to which the closure assembly is to be applied. The internal annular flange 32 at the outer end of the filler neck forms a seat against which the sealing gasket I4 is pressed when the cap is applied to the neck.

For releasably connecting the cap II! to the outer end of the filler neck, I provide quick-detachable bayonet locking means of which the above described locking member l8 forms a part. The other part of the bayonet locking means coml5 prises a pair of opposed earns 33 which are formed integral with and depend from the internal annular flange 32. Each of these locking cams may comprise an inclined cam surface 34, a rest portion 35, and a stop portion 36. As shown in Fig.

1 of the drawing, the opposed cams 33 are arranged on the filler neck with their adjacent ends in spaced relation to provide the slots or openings 3'! which accommodate and admit the out wardly projecting resilient locking fingers 20 when the cap is applied to the neck. From the arrangement just described, it will be seen that, when the cap is applied to the filler neck, the pilot cup [2 enters the filler neck opening with the locking finger extensions 26 passing through the slots 31.

30 By rotation of the cap, the locking fingers 20 are brought into engagement with the inclined cam surface 34 whereby the sealing gasket I4 is pressed between the cap and the flange 32 of the neck. The stops 36 and the rests cooperate with the 35 looking fingers to retain the cap in a desired locked position on the filler neck.

In this instance, the cap and filler neck are retained in connected relation by hinge means, providing an articulated connection which in- 0 eludes the anchor member 40 disposed in the filler neck, the connecting bracket 41 on the pilot cup of the cap, and the bent link 42 which connects the bracket 45 with the anchor member 40. The cap is pivotally connected to the bracket 4i by 45 means of a shouldered rivet .43, or other suitable member, extending through the bracket and through the bottom wall of the pilot cup. If desired, a spacing sleeve d4 may be provided on the rivet between the locking member l8 and the bracket 4! to retain the latter at a desired location on the rivet. As clearly shown in Fig. 2, one end of the link 42 is connected to the bracket by a pivot pin 45 and the other end of the link is connected to the anchor member 40 by a pivot Din 46. The link 42 is preferably of such length and bent to such shape that the cap can be swung to an open position at one side of the filler neck, as shown in Fig. l, or can be swung to a closed position with the link receding into the opening of the neck.

As mentioned above, the anchor member 40 comprises an arcuate spring which has an inherent tendency to expand, and, when assembled in the filler neck, this tendency to expand brings 5 about a locking cooperation between the anchor member and the neck. The spring is preferably formed from sheet metal which is bent to annular or arcuate form, as shown in Fig. 4, and is appropriately heat-treated and tempered. The

ends of the spring are in adjacently spaced relation and are provided with inwardly extending parts 41 which may be gripped by means of a suitable tool for compressing the spring when the latter is to be inserted into the neck or when its position is to be adjusted within the'neck. At a oint intermediate the ends of the spring, a brack'-- et is formed thereon by deflecting portions of the sheet metal inwardly to form the ears or lugs 48 of the bracket. The pivot pin 66 is mounted in these lugs and the link "32 is connected to this pivot pin, as shown in Fig. 2.

For definitely positioning the anchor member within the filler neck, I provide the anchor memher with a plurality of spaced openings or recesses 49, and I provide the filler neck with a p ojection 50 which is adapted for locking engagement in any one of the recesses of the anchor member. When the anchor member is inserted into the filler neck, the tendency for the spring to expand causes the projection 50 to enter one of the recesses of the anchor member, depending upon the angular relation desired between the anchor member and the neck, whereby the anchor member and the filler neck are retained in the desired angular relation.

The anchor member is preferably inserted into the filler neck before the filler neck is applied to the device of which it is to become a part. When the filler neck is connected to such device by means of the threaded connecting portion 3|, it may be found that for proper operation of the cap it is necessary or desirable that the pivot pin 46 and the link i2 be at a particular point on the periphery of the filler neck. To position the pivot pin 46 at such desired point, it is only necessary to insert a suitable tool through the open outer end of the filler neck and to grip thev parts 41. By gripping these parts, the spring: can be compressed to release the projection 5H= from the opening of the anchor member, whereupon the anchor member may be rotated within the filler neck to bring the pivot pin 45 to the desired point. When the anchor member is released, the projection 50 will enter one of the openings of the anchor member to retain the latter in the desired angular position. The internal annular flange 32 at the outer end of the neck prevents withdrawal of the anchor member from the neck so that after the closure assembly has been applied to a container or other device, the cap and anchor member are not subject to removal from the filler neck by accident or theft.

From the foregoing description and accompanying drawing, it will now be readily seen that I have provided an improved form of closure structure wherein a novel anchor member of simple form and economical construction is embodied in the filler neck for retaining the cap in connected relation with the neck. By reason of the spring construction of the anchor member, it Will be seen that this member can be very readily assembled into the filler neck and can be quickly and easily adjusted whenever desired to position the hinge pivot at a desired point on the periphery of the filler neck.

While I have illustrated and described the improved closure structure of my invention in a detailed manner, it will be understood, of course, that I do not intend to be limited. to the precise details of construction and arrangements of parts illustrated and described, but regard my invention as including such changes and modifications as do not involve a departure from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a cap and filler neck assembly, an articulated connection between the cap and the neck member including an anchor member disposed in the neck member, one of said members having a recess therein and the other having a projection adapted for locking engagement in said recess, said anchor member being an arcuate spring having an inherent tendency to expand whereby said projection and recess are retained in looking cooperation.

2. In a hinged cap and filler neck assembly, a hinge connection between the cap and the neck member including a link, and an anchor member disposed in the neck member, one of said members having a recess therein and the other having a projection adapted for locking engagement in said recess, said anchor member being an arcuate spring having an inherent tendency to expand whereby said projection and recess are retained in looking cooperation and said link having pivotal connection with said arcuate spring at a point intermediate its ends.

3. In a hinged capand filler neck assembly, a hinge connection between the cap and the neck member including an anchor member disposed in the neck member, one of said members having a plurality of spaced recesses therein and the other having a projection adapted for locking engagement in any one of said recesses for retaining said members in a corresponding desired angular relation, said anchor member being an arcuate spring having an inherent tendency to expand whereby said projection and said one recess are held in looking cooperation with each other.

4. In a hinged cap and filler neck assembly, a hinge connection between the cap and the neck member including an anchor member disposed in the neck member, one of said members having a plurality of spaced recesses therein and the other having a projection adapted for looking engagement in any one of said recesses for retaining said members in a corresponding desired angular relation, said anchor member being an arcuate spring having its ends in adjacently spaced relation and having an inherent tendency to expand whereby said projection and said one recess are held in locking cooperation with each other, said ends having inwardly extending parts adapted to be gripped for compressing the spring to permit shifting of said projection from one of said recesses to another.

5. In a hinged cap and filler neck assembly, a hinge connection between the cap and the neck member including a link and an anchor member disposed in said neck member, one of said members having a plurality of spaced recesses therein and the other having a projection adapted for locking engagement in any one of said recesses for retaining said members in a correthe combination of a neck member having an internal flange at its outer end, an anchor member disposed in the neck member inwardly of said flange, one of said members having a plurality of spaced recesses therein and the other having a projection adapted for locking engagement in any one of said recesses, said anchor member being an arcuate spring having its ends in adjacently spaced relation and having an inherent tendency to expand whereby said projection and said one recess are held in locking cooperation with each other, a hinge link extending into the neck member and having pivotal connection with the anchor member at a point intermediate said ends, and means adjacent said ends accessible through said outer end of the neck member and adapted to be gripped for compressing the spring to permit shifting of said projection from one of said recesses to another.

7. In a hinged cap and filler neck assembly, the combination of a neck member having a threaded connecting part for cooperation with the partto which the assembly is to be applied and also having an internal flange at its outer end, an anchor member disposed in the neck member inwardly of said flange, one of said members having a plurality of spaced recesses therein and the other having a projection adapted for lockingengagement in any one of said recesses, said anchor member being an arcuate spring having its ends in adjacently spaced relation and having an inherent tendency to expand whereby said projection and said one recess are held in looking cooperation with each other, a hinge link extending into the neck member and having pivotal connection with the anchor member at a point intermediate said ends, and means adjacent said ends for compressing the spring whereby said locking cooperation is released to permit the anchor member and link to be angularly adjusted relative to the neck member.

JAMES NICOL HALKE'I'I. 

